Fig. 6

The permeability of ARPE-19 monolayer increases when affected by stretched HUVECs. A Schematic diagram of indirect co-culture of ARPE-19 cells and unstretched or stretched HUVECs. PBS, phosphate buffer saline; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium. B Images of ARPE-19 monolayers treated with conditioned medium from unstretched (Co-ctr) or stretched (Co-Stretch) HUVECs for 24 h. The blank group refers to ARPE-19 cells that have not been co-cultured. C Schematic diagram of ARPE-19 paracellular permeability assay conducted with Lucifer Yellow. D Permeability of ARPE-19 monolayer treated with conditioned medium from unstretched or stretched HUVECs for 24 h (n = 4). Data in (D) are presented as mean ± SD. *p < 0.05